Fire-extinguishing composition having a low freezing-point.



U; 5. ED STATES PATEN T FFICE.

GEORGE E. FERGUSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO PYRENE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

FIRE-EXTINGUISHING COMPOSITION HAVING A LOW FREEZIN G-POIN T.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE E. FERGUSON, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful In); provements in Fire-Extinguishing Compositions Having a Low Freezing-Point, of

which the-following isa specification.

' The object of this invention is to produce a composition, suitable for use in extinguishing fires, which will be characterized by a low freezing point, and, further, to produce a fire extinguishing composition in which the {fire extinguishing substance thereof acts as a solvent for the substance whose inclusion produces the low-freezing point. Carbon tetrachlorid has been selected as illustrative of a solvent possessing fire extinguishing properties and capable of acting as the solvent for the substance whose inclusion produces the low freezing point.

The extensive uses to which carbon tetrachlorid is put, make it desirable to lower its normal freezing point (which in the chemically pure state i 19.5 C.) to permit its use in temperatures where extreme cold Weather prevails; that it may be utilized as a liquid and at the same time maintain all of its useful properties:

With this in mind, I have performed a large number of experiments to ascertain if some underlying principle can be made to govern this depression of-the freezing point.

It is a well known fact that, considering inorganic compounds and inorganic solvents, that the depression of the freezing point depends upon the solubility of the salts used and the degree of dissociation which takes place when these salts are dissolved in the solvent (which solvent, in most cases, is water).

The laws governing thedepression ofthe freezing point for electrolytes is simple:

1. The freezing point of a solution is lower than that of the pure solvent.

' 2. The depression of the freezing point is proportional to the concentration of the soution.

3. If t degrees be the depression produced by the presence of 32 grams of subtried and no 7 Patented June 25, 1918.

. 1 270 395. Specification of Letters Patent.

No Drawing;

Application filed October 20, 1914, Serial No. 867,583.

stance in 100 grams of the solvent, then the molecular depression pression of the freezing pomt of carbon tetrachlorid. A good example of this is in the solution of a compound like azobenzene (C H N C H which is very soluble in carbon tetrachlorid. When this substance is added the result is a higher freezing point than that of the carbon tetrachlorid alone, and the more azo compound dissolved the higher the freezing point.

en a number of such experiments were principle could be established, it was decided to try out all the commercially possible substances which could be dissolved in carbon tetrachlorid, to ascertain which would depress the freezing point. It was found that among the great variety of compounds tried out about 150 accomplished the desired result.

It is understood that some of these compounds would prove detrimental to the use of carbon tetrachlorid under certain condi tions While they might prove very acceptable under others.

To simplify the list, it was thought best to classify these substances under different chemical roups, such as (1) esters and ethers; (2% amins and amino compounds; (3) aldehydes and ketones; (4:) alcohols; (5) oils; (6) hydrocarbons, substitutes and derivatives; (7 phenols and phenol derivatives; (8) terpenes, camphors and (9) acids, etc.

About the only generality which can be made in regard to all this investigation is the fact that most of these compounds which are in the liquid state at normal (room) temperatures and which are soluble in carbon tetrachlorid lower the freezing point of the carbon tetrachlorid, and vice versa, most of the compounds which are solid at normal temperature and soluble in carbon tetrachlorid do not lower the freezing. point but in most cases raise it. There are, however, enoughexceptions to this generality to render it impossible of general application as a rule.

In this investigation no to determine the quantity solved in a known amount of solvent to proattempt was made duce an observed depression of the freezing point. It was thought that suflicient knowledge was gained in determining just what substances would accomplish the desired depressing efiect on the freezing point.

Considering the group of 011s the "following may be taken as an example:

An oil is, generally speaking, what is known as a glycerid of fatty acid. There are different formulae for most oils, but with many, especially extracts from plant life, which are composite oils, the formulae are worthless because they vary in composition.

. The following are examples of this Aniseed; bergamot cedar caj eput, cloves tugenol, (principal constituent of oil of cloves); fennelseed; adurol, (present in extract of cod liver lemon; mustard; oleum animal; origanum; peppermint; paraflin, (chlorinated oil of parafin); palm; peanut; rapeseed; sperm; safrol (principal constituent of oil of sassafras); turpenltine; Wintergreen; {wine oil; cocoanut; corn; kerosene; amber; olive; tereben, (combination of turpentine and sulfuric acid).

It is obvious that it is impossible to cover every compound, in the manner described, to ascertain if the freezing point of carbon tetrachlorid could be lowered by however, made tests in each class of substance disto generalize in group dissolving-the compound therein. 1 have,

pounds with commercially possible examples in each class. Whatiuture develop ments may be made toward the reductlon of the cost of a number of the expensive compounds, thus rendering the same commercially possible, is problematical but my experiments and tests show that it is possible these classes pr divisions. Four hundred and thirty experiments were performed, the substances selected being taken from the chemical catalogues. All of the organic substances costing one dollar orle'ss per ounce were -'triedas it was conthat these compounds, from the standpoint of cost, would be commerciall possible.

sidered It was found that a great many of these compounds were insoluble in carbon 'tetrachlorid and therefore eliminated themselves from the investigation.

' What I claim is:

1. A fire extinguishing composition having a low freezing point, comprisin a stable of comfire extinguishing solvent and oil of peppermint dissolved therein.

2. A fire extinguishing composition having a low freezing point, comprising carbon tetrachlorid and oil of peppermint dissolved therein. 7

Signed at the city, county, and State of New York, this 8th day. of October, 191.4:- GEORGE E. FERGUSOI.

Witnesses:

, HAROLD W. CHAPMAN, LEWIS J. Doom'r'rnn. 

